Revelation (as in the book)

I am wrapping up the end of a study on Revelation. Can I just say that I didn’t like it? I found all the plagues and references to blood and trials distressing. Not knowing what is symbolic and what is literal is daunting. I’m not sure if it is a discomfort with the idea of hell and damnation or just the sense that our culture is reflective of many of the signs foretold, but it was foreboding and difficult to work through. There was also the sense of this is crazy. I’m used to the story of Jesus, the New Testament parables, the Old Testament stories of people, the wisdom of proverbs, the beauty and emotion of the psalms. Prophecy is a completely different category. Seven heads with seven eyes, references to angels and numbers that may have literal or figurative meanings, dragons and false prophets, the uniting of men only to be fractured again. It makes me feel insignificant, and lacking in control (okay so maybe that is accurate anyway). It makes me aware again of the gaping chasm between God and me. I don’t understand. I don’t get it.

What I did get is that there are parallels between what has been and what will be. Just as those who were around for the coming of Jesus Christ didn’t always get it, yet there were those who still believed. We have our own limited perspective based on our time in this world, based on our cultural perspective. When Jesus was teaching in the Jewish communities, they expected their messiah to rule as a king, to lead their country to overcome the Romans. They expected a physical deliverance as had been done when they were captive to Egypt. Yet Jesus came with a spiritual deliverance. And those closest to the ‘prophecies’ sometimes had the greatest difficulties surrendering their preconceived notions of what this messiah should be.

After looking through the eschatology (briefly and in no way completely) I suppose I do have some better perceptions of what it might be like. I might have more understanding of what I think will happen, but I want to learn the lesson provided by the original chosen people. It might not be exactly what I am expecting, but it will be what is needed and so much more than what I can imagine. And I suppose in the words of Bill Murray, “I got that going for me.”